Control means for pressure feed lines



May 16, 1933. T. w. HALLERBERG CONTROL MEANS FOR PRESSURE FEED LINES I Filed May 21, 1931 gwuanto'c Patented May 16, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT orrlcr."

THEODORE w. ILALLERBERG, OF- HAWTHORNE, oALIEoRNIA, AssIsNoE,- BY MEsNE ASSIGNMENTS, To THE COMMERCE GUARDIAN BANK, OF' ToLEDo, o IIo, AS

TRUSTEE CONTROL MEANS FOR DE-EssUE FEED LINEs Application filed May a1, 1931. Serial No. 539,010.

This invention relates to compressors of the type commonly used in connection with pressure feed centralized lubricating systems,

and has for its objects the provision, in a device of this character, of an automatic safety release. feature for the generated pressure; also an automatic release for the lubricating line pressure which is necessary for the effective operation of the associated control valve when the forcing of lubricant into the line from the source has ceased, and also a visible pressure indicating means, whereby to enhance the practicability and commercial value of devices of this character.

The invention is fully described in the fol lowing specification, and while in its broader aspect it is capable of embodiment in various forms, one embodiment thereof is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a central vertical section of a compressor embodying the invention, with parts in full, and with the control parts in normal position. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof, and Fig. '3 is a cross-section on the line 3-3 in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing, 1 designates the cylindrical body memberof the compressor having the removable bottom 2 and the removable top 3 united and held closely to the respective ends of the body member 1, in the present instance by a tubular connection 4. This connection projects through the member 1 and has its lower end threaded into a socket in the bottom member 2 and its upper end projecting into an opening in the top member 3 and receiving a flanged bearing sleeve 5 that is threaded in the tube. The members 1, 2 and 3 form the lubricant receiving or supply chamber 6 of the compressor.

The tubular member 4 forms a cylinder 7 at its lower end in which a plunger 8 operates, said plunger having a stem 9 projecting upwardly therefrom through the bearing sleeve 5 and having an operating handle 10 pivotally attached to its outer end. This lever is adapted to be hand-operated and has its fulcrum end connected to the top member 3 at one side of the tube 4 by a pivoted link 11. The up-stroke of the flange ,8 is limited by striking the lower end of the sleeve 5.

The cylinder. 7 has communication near its upper end with the chamber 6 through one or more ports 12, which ports are closed to the cylinder 7 except when the plunger8 is raised'thereabove. The 'lower end of the cylinder 7 has an outlet port 13 in communication-with a discharge passage14 provided in the bottom member2 .of the compressor. The port 13 is normally closed by anoutward ly opening check valve .15, in the present instance of the ball type, which is yieldingly held to its seat by a spring 16. Thep ort113, in the present instance, is'provided through a ring member 17, which serves as a seat for the valve 15 and is removable from its seat.

within the member 2 upon a removal of the tube 4 therefrom, thus permitting access to the ball 5 and spring 16 for replacement or repair.

The passage 14 communicates at its outer end with a valve chamber 18 formed in the enlargement 19, in the present instance, at

right angles to the passage 14 and provided with a port 20 opemng communication with an outlet passage. 22, which opens communication between the passage 21 and the compressor supply chamber 6, the port 20 being disposed between the passage 14 and port 22. The outlet passage 21 is connected by tubing, or other suitable means, to the parts to be lubricated.

A plunger type of valve 23 is reciprocally movable in the valve chamber 18 and has its upper end projecting within a cap 24 that is removably mounted on the enlargement 19 within, the chamber 6, It is immaterial, however, so far as the operation ofthe device is concerned, whether the cap 24 is disposed within or without the chamber 6. This cap contains a coiled expansion spring 25 and has its upper end thrust against the upper end of the cap and its lower end thrust against a stop collar 26 on thevalve 23' to normally hold the valve at the limit of its downstroke, which is determined by the stop engagement of the collar 26 with the bottom of the chamber in which the spring 24 is disposed.

When

the valve 23is in its normal posi- 21 and also with a port 8 to a point above the port 12, thus and the port 22 is open between the chamber 6 and passage 21 due to a cut-away portion 27 in the valve standing in register with such port.

When the plunger 8 is operated to force lubricant outward through the passage 14, the feed pressure of the lubricant is exerted against the inner end of the valve 23, forciii-g it up against the tension of the spring 25- until the port 20' is uncovered, thus permitting the lubricant to pass into the passage 21 and to be distributed therethrough to the connected parts, The raising of the valve 23 to uncover the port 20 moves the cut-away portion 27 'of the valve out of register with the .port 22, thereby closing the communication between the chamber 6 and passage 21 before the port 20 is uncovered. When the feeding pressure of the lubricant within the passage 14 is discontinued, the valve 23 returns to its normal position, closing the port 20 and opening the relief port 22 between the chamber 6 and distributin passage 21, thus permitting the pressure in the passage 21 r to be released. This automatic release of the pressure in the passage 21. is important in lubricant distributing systems, as such systems are usually supplied in the distributing line with a control valve which is operated by supply line pressure to close the communication between a secondary lubricant supply chamber and the distributing line and to open the communication between such chamber and the supply line, and which valve, upon a release of pressure in the supply line, operates to return to its normal position wherein the communication of the secondary supply chamber with the supply is closed and a communication of such chamber with the distributing line opened, as well understood in the art.

A stem 28 projects down through the top 3 of the compressor chamber and through the top of the cap 24 into position to be engaged and raised by the upper end of the stem portion of the valve 23 when the valve has been raised an extent greater than is necessary to uncover the port 20, thus effecting a raising of the stem 28 and indicating to the operator that the supply line and secondary chamber have been filled with lubricant. If the operator continues to opcrate the plunger 8, after such indication, the valve 23' continues to rise by reason of the back pressure created in the supply line, until its lower end has uncovered the re lease port 22, thus releasing the excess pres sure into the chamber 6.

In operation, the operator,

7 at each upstroke of the handle 10, raises the plunger creating a vacuum or suction within the chamber 7, which, upon the uncovering of the port 12, draws lubricant from the supply chamber 6 into the cylinder 7. On each clown-stroke,

eoaaes the lubricant thus drawn into the cylinder 7 is forced out through the passage 14 against the lower end of the valve 23, effecting a raising of such valve to first close the relief port 22 and then uncover the port 20 to cause the lubricant to be forced outward through the port 20 and passage 21 to the part or parts to be supplied. When the supply line has been filled withlubricant, after discharging all the valves in the system, a wback'pressure is set up in the line causing a greater opening pressure to'be exerted on the valve 23, thereby forcing it a sufficient distance above the port 20 to engage and raise the visible indicator 28 to notify the operator that the desired pressure has been obtained within the supply system. If the operator should continue to operate the compressor,

the pressure within the passages 14 and 21 will have increased sufficiently to raise the lower end of the valve 23 above the relief passage 22, thus permitting an escape of the excess pressure into the chamber 6. This provides a safety means which will prevent the creation of a dangerous pressure within the lubricating system. WVhen the operator discontinues the pumping or lubricant feed ing operation, the valve 23 is permitted to slowly return to its normal lowered position under the action of the spring 25 due to a i slow seepage of lubricant taking place around the valve and through the port 22 into the chamber 6.

It is apparent that I have provided asimple and efficient pressure control for use in connection with the compressors ofcforced feed lubricating systems, or the like, which is automatically operable to relieve the pressure in the supply line'of the associated system when the operating of the compressor has ceased, and it is also operable to normally maintain the communication between the sup.- ply line and compressor closed, except when the compressor is being operated, to force lubricant into the supply line, and that when a predetermined pressure has been reached in the supply line, such pressure will be automatically relieved to the supply source, preventing injury to the distributing line and parts associated therewith, when due care is I not observed by the operator to discontinue operating the compressor when a sufficient supply of lubricant has been forced into the supply line.

I wish it understood that my invention is not limited to any specific construction, arrangement or form of the parts, as it is capable of numerous modifications and changes without departing from the spirit of the claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In an apparatus of the class described, means forming a material supply reservoir and a discharge passage therefrom, said passage having a relief port, an outwardly open ing check valve in said passage, a means operable to force material from said reservoir through said passage, and means con trolling said passage and port and normally closing the former and opening the latter,

said last means being operable by predetermined feeding pressure in the passage to reverse said conditions.

2. In combination, means forming a lubricant supply reservoir and a feed line passage therefrom, said passage having a relief port in communication with the reservoir, means operable. to force material from the reservoir through said passage, and valve means in said passage normally operating to close said passage and open said relief port and operable by a feeding pressure in the passage, first to close said relief port and then to open the passage to permit the feed of lubricant therethrough.

3. In combination, means forming a lubricant supply reservoir and a feed line passage therefrom, said passage having a relief port in communication with the reservoir, means operable to force material from the reservoir through said passage, valve means in said passage normally operating to close said passage and open said relief port and operable by a feed pressure in the passage, first to close said relief port, then to open the passage to permit the feed of lubricant therethrough, and then operable by a predetermined accumulated pressure in the feed line to open said relief port.

4. In combination, a feed line having a passage through which a material is fed under pressure, said passage having a relief port, a movable pressure-indicating element, a reciprocally movable valve normally standing in position to close said passage and open said relief port, said valve being operable by feeding pressure in the line, first to close said relief port and then open said passage, and then operable by a greater accumulated pressure in the line to move the valve to open said relief passage and actuate said element.

5. A lubricant feed line having a relief passage therein, a valve in said'line, means acting on the valve to normally hold it in position to close the line and to open the relief passage therein, said valve being operable by a feeding pressure in the line to open the l ne and close the relief passage.

6. A lubricant feed line having a feed passage therethrough and a relief port, a valve in said line, means acting on the valve to normally hold it in position to close said feed passage and to open said relief port, said valve being operable by feeding pressure in the line to open said passage and close said relief port and then by a combined feed pressure andback pressure to open said relief port.

7. A lubricant feed line having a feed passage therethrough and a relief port, a valve in said line, means acting on the valve to normally hold it in position to close the feed passage and open said relief passage, said valve being operable by feeding pressure in the line, first to close said relief port and then to open the feed line passage, and by predetermined accumulated pressure in the line to open said relief port in addition to the feed passage.

8. A pump of the class describe-d having a supply reservoir and. a feed line from the pump with an auxiliary relief passage to the reservoir and valve means associated with said feed line normally closing said line and opening said relief passage, and operable under feeding pressure in the line first to close said relief passage and then to open the line.

9. A pump of the class described having a supply reservoir and a feed line from the pump with an auxiliary relief passage to the reservoir and valve means normally closing said feed passage, and operable under feeding pressure in the line first to close the relief passage and then to open the feed line, said valve means also being operable under a predetermined accumulated pressure in the line to open the relief passage and to close said passage When-the line pressure falls below the predetermined accumulated pressure.

10. In combination, means forming a pump therefrom, a

reservoir, a discharge passage distributing passage and a valve chamber intermediate said passages having a feed port opening communication between said passages and a relief port opening communication between the distributing the reservoir, and a valve operable in said chamber and normally acting to close said feed port and open said relief port and yieldingly movable under pressure in the supply passage first to close said relief port and then to open said feed port.

11. 'In combination, means forming a pump reservoir, a discharge passage therefrom, a distributing passage and a valve chamber intermediate said passages port opening communication between said passages and a relief port opening communication between the distributing passage and the reservoir, and a valve operable in said chamber and normally acting to close said feed port and open said relief port and yieldingly movable under pressure in the supply passage first to close said relief port and then to open said feed port and by a greater predetermined accumulated pressure in the supply and distributing passages to open the relief port while the feed port remains open.

In testimony wherof I have hereunto signed my name to this specification.

THEODORE W. HALLERBERG.

line and openmgsaid relief.

passage and having a feed 

